Accompanist

The Governor's Academy; Byfield (MA); On-site; Full time

Job summary

The Governor’s Academy, the oldest boarding school in New England, invites applications for an independent contractor Accompanist to provide piano accompaniment for school events, performances, rehearsals, and productions. The role primarily supports choral and musical theater programs.

Responsibilities include accompanying the winter musical, concerts, rehearsals, and coordinating with the Choral Director, students, and faculty.

Qualifications

• B.M. preferred specializing in piano performance or collaborative piano.
• Strong piano performance and accompaniment skills.
• Experience accompanying vocalists, choirs, musical theater productions, or other musical ensembles preferred.
• Ability to read and interpret musical scores effectively.
• Experience working with students and/or school music programs preferred.
• Strong collaborative and communication skills.
• Dependable, professional, and prepared for scheduled rehearsals and performances.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality piano accompaniment for designated school events, performances, ceremonies, and other musical programs.
• Serve as the piano accompanist for the school’s winter musical, winter and spring concerts, including rehearsals and performances as mutually scheduled.
• Work collaboratively with the Choral Director and other music faculty to prepare students for performances and events.
• Attend selected rehearsals and preparation sessions as requested by the Choral Director.
• Accompany student vocalists and ensembles as appropriate for rehearsals, performances, auditions, and other school-related musical activities.
• Prepare musical selections in advance of scheduled rehearsals and performances.
• Adjust accompaniment as needed to support student performers and the artistic direction of the program.
• Communicate professionally and effectively with music faculty, students, and other members of the School community.
• Provide other related musical support as mutually agreed upon.
• Providing piano lessons to students who elect to study piano.
• Providing piano accompaniment support for students participating in the music lesson program who require an accompanist.
• Coordinating lesson or accompaniment arrangements directly with the appropriate School music faculty or program coordinator.

Skills

Piano performance

Accompaniment skills

Collaborative skills

Reading sheet music

Education

BM in Piano Performance or Collaborative Piano

Job description

The Accompanist is an independent contractor who provides piano accompaniment and related musical support for designated school events, performances, rehearsals, and productions. The Accompanist will primarily support the School’s choral and musical theater programs, including the annual winter musical, as requested and scheduled.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality piano accompaniment for designated school events, performances, ceremonies, and other musical programs.


• Serve as the piano accompanist for the school’s winter musical, winter and spring concerts, including rehearsals and performances as mutually scheduled.


• Work collaboratively with the Choral Director and other music faculty to prepare students for performances and events.


• Attend selected rehearsals and preparation sessions as requested by the Choral Director.


• Accompany student vocalists and ensembles as appropriate for rehearsals, performances, auditions, and other school-related musical activities.


• Prepare musical selections in advance of scheduled rehearsals and performances.


• Adjust accompaniment as needed to support student performers and the artistic direction of the program.


• Communicate professionally and effectively with music faculty, students, and other members of the School community.


• Provide other related musical support as mutually agreed upon.

Student Music Lesson Program

• Providing piano lessons to students who elect to study piano.


• Providing piano accompaniment support for students participating in the music lesson program who require an accompanist.


• Coordinating lesson or accompaniment arrangements directly with the appropriate School music faculty or program coordinator.

Participation in the music lesson program is separate from event-based accompaniment assignments and is subject to student interest, program needs, and mutually agreed-upon arrangements.

Qualifications

• B.M. preferred specializing in piano performance or collaborative piano.


• Strong piano performance and accompaniment skills.


• Experience accompanying vocalists, choirs, musical theater productions, or other musical ensembles preferred.


• Ability to read and interpret musical scores effectively.


• Experience working with students and/or school music programs preferred.


• Strong collaborative and communication skills.


• Dependable, professional, and prepared for scheduled rehearsals and performances.


• Ability to adapt accompaniment to varying student skill levels and performance needs.

Working Relationship

This position is an independent contractor relationship. Services will be provided on an as-needed and event-specific basis according to mutually agreed-upon dates, times, and responsibilities. The requirements of the musical program and scheduled performance needs.

The School does not guarantee a minimum number of assignments, rehearsals, performances, lessons, or hours.

$65 for rehearsals, $100 - $150 per event, and is based on an established schedule. The Accompanist will receive a Form 1099 for applicable payments and is responsible for all federal, state, and local taxes and other obligations associated with independent contractor compensation.

Summary

The Governor’s Academy, the oldest boarding school in New England, inspires and engages inquisitive students in ninth through twelfth grade. Our 456-acre campus is located thirty miles north of Boston and five miles south of Newburyport, a classic New England coastal town. Govs has approximately 400 students and 150 employees. Govs faculty and staff are committed to creating and cultivating an intentionally diverse and inclusive community that allows students to learn from each other’s unique backgrounds and experiences, discover their passions, find and use their distinctive voices, and achieve academic and co-curricular excellence. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds. Adults in our community are professionals who appreciate individuality, collaboration, and service to others— all so that we can go far together.

Statement of School Values

As an educational community, the Academy has an administration, a faculty, and a student body committed to learning. We pursue this commitment in a dynamic environment that fosters lifelong intellectual independence, responsibility, teamwork, service, and respect for others. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive community that is physically and emotionally healthy.

Applicants for employment are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy or a condition related to pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, age, physical or mental disability, status as a veteran or being a member of the Reserves or National Guard, military service, application for military service, or any other category protected under state or federal law. Please notify us if you wish to request a reasonable accommodation to complete this application, interview for the position, or otherwise participate in the hiring process. We will consider all such requests in accordance with applicable law.